Trap.



J. J. MoDONALD.

TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4, 1909.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

UNITED STATES PATENT omuou.

JAMES J. MGDONALD, or CLEVELAND, OHIO.

TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

Application filed February 4, 1909. Serial No. 476,015.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES J. MCDONALD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and .State of Ohio,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Traps, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to traps, and more particularly to traps whichare employed with the return lines of vacuum and pressure heatingsystems.

The objects of the invention are to provide a trap having an outletvalve through which water of condensation that may accumulate within thetrap may be periodically discharged With a minimiun liability of inter-'-the deposit of sediment thereon and will prevent dislodgment of thevalve; to provide a trap of this character with an efiicient andconvenient form of by-pass by means of which water of condensation andsediment may be drawn from the trap independently of the aforesaid valveand its automatically operating float control; also to provide a traphaving a connection which largely prevents the entrance of sediment intothe trap.

Generally speaking, the invention may be defined as consisting of thecombinations of elements embodied in the claims hereto annexed andillustrated in the drawings form ing a part hereof, wherein Figure 1,represents a central sectional view taken through a trap constructed inaccordance with my invention; Fig. 2 repre-' sents a sectional viewcorresponding to the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 represents an elevationof the trap, the by-pass valve and easing being shown in section, theradiator connection being omitted and the casing being' broken away toreveal the manner of securing the combined guide bridge and baffie inplace; Fig. 4: a central vertical sectional view of the trap, the float,valve and lever being omitted; Fig. 5 a detail in elevation of thevalve-seat fitting looking at right angles to the plane of Fig. 1; andFig. 6 an enlarged sectional view of the valve and seat taken at anangle to Fig. 1.

Describing the parts by reference charac- .ters, 1 denotes the casing orbody of the trap. This casing may be generally cylindrical in shape andis provided above the bottom thereof with a nipple 2, preferably casttherewith, said nipple being provided with an external thread and havingits outer end beveled, as shown at 3, for the reception of the end of aconnection4. This connection is provided with a shoulder 5 adapted :tobe engaged by the inwardly projecting flange 6 of an lnternally threadedcoupling 7, whereby the connection 4 may be clamped .to the'outer end ofthe nipple 2. The connection 4: is shown as provided with a pair ofshort inwardly projecting ribs 8 for the reception of a tool by means ofwhich it may be screwed into a connection, as for instance the outletconnection P of a radiator, the connection 4: being provided with anexternal screw thread 9 by means of which it may be threaded into suchother connection. The end of connectionec which is remote from thecasing l is generally conical in shape and is provided with a centralaperture 10. the purpose of which will be described hereinafter.

The casing 1 is provided at its upper end witha suitable cover 11, whichis shown as provided with an outwardly projecting screw thread adaptedto fit in the internal thread at the top of the casing.

The bottom of the casing'is provided with a connection 14, having itslower end provided with a thread for the reception of a pipe, which maybe the return pipe of a vacuum or pressure heating system. The bottom ofthe casing merges with connection 14- by means of an invertedfrusto-conical surface 15, which is adapted to receive a similarlytapered valve seat fitting 16. This fitting, as appears moreparticularly from Figs. 1 and 5, is provided with a recess 17 in thelower face thereof for the reception of the valve 18, said valve beingprovided with a stem l9 projecting upwardly through an aperture 20 inthe top of the valve seat fitting. The upper peripheral portion 21 ofthe fitting 16 is substantially flush with the bottom of the casing 1.From the said peripheral portion, the fitting is inclined upwardly, asshown at 22, whereby the aper-- ture 20 is elevated above the bottom ofthe casing 1. The fitting is provided with two oppositely arranged fins23 and 24, the former projecting upwardly above the fitting aconsiderable distance and being provided with an aperture for thereception of a pin 25, which pin extends through a slot in a lever 26and connects the same pivotally with said fin. The other fin 24 is forthe purpose of providing an extended bearing for the lower end of thecombined battle and bridge, which will be described hereinafter.

27 denotes a float mounted within the easing 1. This float is of metaland is generally hemispherical in shape. It is conveniently formed oftwo pieces of sheet metal, the bottom piece 28 being provided with anupwardly extending recess. That portion of the bottom piece which isremote from the valve seat fitting is provided with a forked, downwardlyprojecting connecting member or yoke,-the forks 29 being con nected attheir upper ends by a plate 29, preferably integral therewith andsoldered to the bottom of the float. The forks are provided with aplurality of apertures 30 therethrough for the reception of a pin 31 bymeans of which the yoke and the float of which it forms a part may bepivotally connected to the extension 32 of lever 26. The end of thelever which is opposite the extension 32 is pivotally connected with thevalve stem 19 by means of a pin 33. The float is provided with a stem 34secured to the bottom plate 28. The stem extends upwardly through thefloat and through a somewhat elongated slot 35 in the bridge 36, thestem forming a tight joint with the float body. For convenience ofdescription, that portion of the trap which is provided with theconnection 2 will be referred to hereinafter as the front portion andthe opposite portion as the rear portion and corresponding terms will beemployed to designate the location of the various parts of the trap.

It will be observed that the distance be tween pivots 25 and 33 on thefront end of the lever 26 is very short when compared with the distanceof the pivot 25 to any of the apertures 30 in the forks 29. It will alsobe observed, from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 5, that the valve 18 isrounded or hemispherical in shape and that its upper surface contactswith the valve seat in a line closely adjacent to the aperture 20,whereby a very small exposed surface of valve is presented to the actionof the positive or negative pressure in the system. Owing to this factand to the relatively great length of the rear arm of the lever ascompared with the front arm, the float 27 will hold the valve 18 seatedagainst a considerable positive pressure above the valve or aconsiderable negative pressure beneath the valve, dependent upon therelative lengths of the lever arms, the weight of the float and theexposed area of the valve. Attention has been directed to the provisionof aplurality of apertures 30 in the forks 29. Similar apertures 37 areprovided in the fin or extension 32. The apertures 30 and 37 are eacharranged in a series which extends generally longitudinally of the forksand lever. This is for the purpose of accommodating the floats todifferent pressures in the system with which the traps may be employed,or to variations of pressure in different systems. It will be apparentthat, by connecting the apertures 30 and 37 which are nearer the pivotof the lever, the float will be adapted for use with less pressure(positive or negative) than would be the case if the float and leverwere connected at the point shown in the drawing.

In assembling the trap, it is desirable to insert the float, lever,valve and valve seat fitting in place in a connected condition. Tofacilitate the application of the fitting 16 to its seat, I extend theend of lever 26 beyond the bottom of the float, whereby said end mayengage the float bottom and hold the lever and fitting in convenientposition for inspection and for the application of the valve-seatfitting to the outlet connection 14. To prevent the end from engagingthe float during the excursions of said float in the casing, due to theaccumulation of water of condensation in the casing or to the action ofthe positive or negative pressure referred to, the rear end of the leveris beveled downwardly, as shown at 38, permitting a considerable rangeof movement of the float before its rear edge will engage said end.Furthermore, in order to preserve the proper proportion between thevertical movement of the float and the movement of the valve 18 and atthe same time prevent the rear end of the lever extension 32 fromengaging the float 27 during its upward movement, I arrange theapertures 30 and 37 in the manner shown in Fig. 1. That is to say, theapertures 30 extend downwardly from rear to front of the forks 29, whilethe apertures 37 extend upwardly from the the rear end of said lever isprevented from engaging the bottom of the float in all ordinarymovements of said float and lever within the casing.

Reference has been made to the bridge or guide 36. This bridge or guideis preferably formed integral with a baflle 39. The combined bridge andbafile will be conveniently retained in place by means of theconstruction shown in Figs. 1 and 3, by reference to which it willappear that the casing 1, immediately below the threaded upper endthereof is provided with a pair of oppositely located triangular seats40 for the reception of corresponding triangular lugs 41 at oppositeends of the bridge 36. These lugs are so located as to be engaged by thelower end of the skirt 13 to retain the bridge and baffie in place. Thebaflie 39 extends across the connection 2 and down to the bottom of thecasing 1, where it is provided with a rearwardly projecting lug or ridge42 having a pair of inclined seats 43 therein adapted to engagecorresponding inclined surfaces on the fin 24. The upper end of fin 24may, if desired, project through a slot 45 formed in the upper portionof 42. From the construction described, it will be apparent that thelower end of the battle has an elongated bearing on the valve seatfitting 16 whereby the weignt and pressure exerted by the baffie uponthe valve-seat fitting will be transmitted from the periphery to thecenter thereof. This prevents the tilting of the valve-seat fitting bythe action of the float 27 and its associated parts on said fittingwhile permitting the easy removal of the said fitting when desired.

As will appear more clearly from Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the bathe 39 iscurved, having its concave face presented toward the connection 2, andthe opposite edges of said baffle are closely adjacent to the inner wallof the casing 1. It will also appear from Figs. 1 and 4 that at itsupper end the baflie is reduced in width, beginning at a point slightlybe low the axis of the connection 2. The shape of this battle preventsthe direct impingement of water of condensation or steam upon the float27 and also prevents any sediment that may enter through the connection2 from being carried directly over to the valve seat fitting 16.

For the purpose of quickly removing any sediment that may accumulatewithin the trap, I provide a by-pass, said by-pass comprising a valvecasing 46 having a valve therein and communicating with the bottom ofthe casing 1 and the outlet connection 14 below the valve-seat fitting16. The casing is provided with three ports, namely; a central port 47which extends through the bottom of the casing 1 and has its upper endwithin the lower curved end of battle 39, and a pair of ports 48 locatedon each side of the lower end of the baflie 39 and extending through thebottom of the casing 1. The casing 46 may be conveniently cast with thecasing 1 and has rotatably mounted there" nection 4 with its centralrestricted aperture 10 largely prevents the entrance of sediment intothe casing 1, as the bulk of the sediment will be trapped below saidaperture between the conical end of the connection 4 and the subjacentportion of the radiator connection 4 Should any sediment pass into thetrap, it will be largely retained within the bafiie 39 and thus beprevented from gaining any access to that part of the casing containingthe float and the valve seat fitting 16. Any sediment that may pass intothe casing 1 and accumulate outside the baffle 39 may be withdrawnthrough the ports 48. The projection of the top of the fitting 16 abovethe bottom of the casing 1 practically eliminates any danger of sedimentpassing between the valve 18 and its seat. Should any sediment, however,enter the aperture 20, it will not remain on the valve 18, as this valveis self-cleaning, the water of condensation or steam which flows overthe upper surface thereof effectually removing sediment that mayaccumlate thereon. As a further precaution, while the valve stem 19 ismade sufliciently smaller than the aperture 20 to provide a free spacearound said stem, said space, however, is of no greater diameter thanthe opening which exists between the valve 18 and its seat when thefloat 27 is elevated by the accumulation of water of condensation in thecasing 1 or by the action of the positive or negative pressure in thesystem acting upon the top or bottom of the valve.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have provided atrap which will collect water, which will automatically discharge thesame at intervals and which may be adjusted to suit various conditionsof pressure in the system with which it may be employed. It will also beapparent that it will reduce to a minimum the liability of any imperfectoperation due to the accumulation of sediment and that, should any suchsediment accumulate within the body of the trap it may be convenientlyremoved. It will also appear that the float 27 is capable of operatingas a float to permit water of condensation to escape as well as a weightwhereby the degree of positive or negative pressure .atwhich the valve18 will open maybe controlled. The weight of the float will hold thevalve closed until water of condensation reaches a predetermined levelas w. saior until the positive pressure above, or the negative pressurebelow, the valve opens the same.

As will appear from Fig. 3, the valve plug 49 rotates within a spaceprovided between the threaded ends 52 of the casing and is provided withan operating stem of less diameter than its body. One end of the casingwill be closed by a solid plug 55%, while the other end will be closedby a hollow plug inclosing the end of plug 53. By this construction thevalve plug ll) is reversible and may be operated by its stem from eitherthe right or left hand side of the trap, as may be desirable. This is acircumstance of great advantage in applying the trap to various types ofheating systems.

By reference to Fig. 6, it will be seenthat a capillary passage isprovided between the valve 18 and its seat 16. This passage is for thepurpose of permitting the escape of air when steam is turned onto thesystem,

also water of condensation which may accumulate, especially the waterremaining in the trap after steam has been cut oil from the system orfrom the part thereof with which the trap may be employed. When steam ison, the float will lift from time to time, and discharge the water ofcondensation. in the manner hereinbefore described. This capillarypassage may be conveniently formed by removing a small area of thesurface of the valve 18 on. the line at which it engages the seat 16,thus providing the port or passage 18, shown in Fig. 6.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a casinghaving an inlet connection and provided with an outlet connection in thebottom thereof having at its upper end an outwardly flaring seat, avalveseat fitting provided with a complementarily flared surfaceengaging the flared seat of the outlet connection and having an upwardly extending valve seat and an aperture communicating with said seatand extending through the top of said seat, a valve in said seat havinga stem, extending through. said aperture, an operating device in saidcasing and a lever connecting said device and said valve stem.

2. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a casinghaving an inlet and provided in its bottom with an outlet, :1 valve-seatfitting resting in said outlet, an upwardly-seating valve cooperatingwith said fitting, a float, a lever connecting said float and saidvalve, and a battle interposed between said inlet and said valve andengaging the valve fitting.

3. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a casinghaving an inlet and provided in its bottom with an outlet, a valve-scatfitting resting in said outlet, an upwardly seating valve cooperatingwith said fitting, a float, a lever connecting the float and valve, aguide stem for said float, and a bridge having a guide opening for saidstem, said bridgehaving an extension engaging said fitting.

4. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a casinghaving an inlet and an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, at floatoperatively connected with said valve, a guide for said float extendingacross the casing and resting in seats below the top thereof, a bafflecarried by said guide between said inlet and said float and a cover forsaid casing adapted to engage said guide above said seats.

In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a casinghaving an inlet and a bottom outlet, a valveseat fitting resting in saidoutlet, a valve in said fitting, a lever pivoted to said fitting at oneside thereof and connected to said valve, a float con nected to saidlever, and a battle interposed between the inlet and the outlet andengaging the side of said fitting opposite the lever pivot.

6. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a casinghaving an inlet and a bottom outlet, a valve seat fitting in said outletand having upwardly extending members on opposite sides thereof, a valvecooperating with said. fitting, a float, a lever pivoted to one of saidmembers and connected at opposite ends to said valve and floatrespectively, and a battle interposed between the inlet and the fittingand having a projection engaging the other member of the fitting.

7. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a casinghaving an inlet and an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, a floathaving a connecting member on its under side between the center andperiphery thereof, said member having a series of apertures therein, alever connected to said valve and having a series of aperturescorresponding to the apertures in said member, and means adapted toextend through the apertures of the connecting member and lever.

S. In a device of the character set. forth, the combination of a casinghaving an inlet and a valve controlled outlet, a by-pass connectionbetween the casing and the outlet, said connection comprising a valvecasing having its opposite ends threaded, a rotary reversible valve insaid valve casing having a stem, and interchangeable plugs for the endsof said valve casing.

9. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a casinghaving a side inlet and a valve-controlled bottom outlet, a curvedbafile extending from the inlet to the bottom of the casing and havingits sides in close proximity to the side of the casing, a post in thebottom of the casing and a bottom outlet, a valve seat fitting restingin said outlet and having a portion of its top formed to receive aretaining member, a valve therefor, a float, a lever connected to saidfloat and said valve, and a battle interposed between the inlet and theoutlet and having a rearwardly projecting retaining member having a seatadapted to engage a corresponding portion of the valve seat fitting.

11. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a casinghaving an inletand an outlet, a valve controlling the outlet, a float insaid casing having a connecting member projecting from the bottomthereof,

and a lever connected to said valve and to said member and having abeveled end adapted to engage the lower edge of the float.

12. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a casinghaving a substantially cylindrical side wall and having an outlet in thebottom thereof, a valve controlling said outlet, a float in said casingoperatively connected with said valve, said casing having an inlet inthe side wall above the bottom thereof, and a vertically extendingbaffle plate located adjacent to the inlet, said baffle plate beingtransversely curved and having its edges in substantial engagement withthe casing wall on opposite sides of the inlet and extending from thebottom of said casing substantially as high as the central portion ofthe inlet connection.

13. In a device of the character set forth,

the combination of a casing having an outlet in the bottom thereof, avalve controlling said outlet, a float in said casing operativelyconnected with said valve, said casing having an inlet in the wall abovethe bottom thereof, and a vertically extending baffle plate locatedadjacent to the inlet, said baffle plate having its edges in substantialengagement with the casing wall on opposite sides of the inlet andextending from the bottom of said casing above the bottom of the inletconnection.

14:. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a casinghaving an outlet in the bottom thereof, a valve for said outlet, a floatoperatively connected with said valve, the wall of the casing beingprovided with an inlet connection above the bottom of the casing, and avertically ar-.

ranged baffle plate extending upwardly from the bottom of the casing asfar as the inlet connection and forming a passageway therewith, saidbafiie plate being reduced in width opposite the upper part of saidconnection.

15. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a casinghaving an outlet on the bottom thereof, a. valve controlling saidoutlet, a float connected to said valve, said casing'being provided withan inlet connection located above the bottom thereof, a baffle plateinterposed between the inlet connection and the float, said baffle plateextending upwardly from the bottom of the casing to a point above thebottom of the inlet connection and being reduced above such point andforming with the casing a vertical passageway extending upwardly as highas the bottom of the inlet connection.

16. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of -a casinghaving a side inlet and a bottom outlet, a valve for said outletcomprising a vertically removable valve seat resting in the outlet, avalve having a stem projecting upwardly through said seat, a float,means operatively connecting said float and said valve, and a baffleplate interposed between the inlet connection and the float and havingits lower end engaging the valve seat.

17. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a casinghaving an inlet and an outlet, a valve for said outlet, a floatoperatively connected to said valve, a baflie in the casing interposedbetween the inlet and the outlet and extending to the-bottom of thecasing, and a valve-controlled by-pass communicating at one end with theoutlet and at its opposite end wit-h the space between the baffle andthe adjacent wall'of the casing.

18. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a casinghaving an inlet and a valve controlled outlet, a bafiie in the casinginterposed between the inlet and the outlet, a valve-controlled by-passconnection communicating with the outlet and with the space between thebaffle and the adjacent wall of the casing, and a port lotend throughthe apertures of the connecting member and lever.

20. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a casinghaving an inlet and an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, a floathaving a connecting member on its under side, said member having alongitudinal series of apertures therein, a lever connected to saidvalve and having a longitudinal series of apertures corresponding to theapertures in said connecting member, and means adapted to extend throughthe apertures of the connecting member and lever.

21. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a casinghaving an inlet and provided with an outlet near the bottom thereof, avertically reciprocable valve for said outlet, a float in said casinghaving on its bottom a connecting member between the center and theperiphery thereof, said member having a longitudinal series ofapertures, a lever having one end connected to said valve and having itsopposite end provided with a longitudinal series of aperturescorresponding to those of the connecting member, and means forconnecting the apertures of the lever with those of the member.

22. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a casinghaving an inlet and a bottom outlet, a valve-seat fitting resting insaid outlet and having an aperture therethrough, a valve adapted to seatupwardly and having a stem through said aperture, said fitting beingprovided with a lever support, a lever connected to the valve stem andpivoted to said support, an operating device in the casing connected tosaid lever, a bridge extending across the casing and having an operativeconnection with said device, and means projecting from the bridge andadapted to bear against the valve seat fitting on the side opposite thelever support.

23. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a casinghaving an inlet and a bottom outlet, a valve-seat fitting resting in theoutlet and having an aperture therethrough, an upwardly seating valvehaving a stem projecting through said aperture, a lever support carriedby said fitting, a lever pivoted to said support and con nected to saidvalve stem, an operating de- .vice within the casing connected to saidlever, and means within the casing adapted to engage the valve-seatfitting on the side opposite the lever support.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo Witnesses.

JAMES J. MCDONALD. WVitnesses:

J. B. HULL, BRENNAN B. VEST.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Iatents, Washington. D. C.

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